Aikido Terms

* Bold terms are most important to learn first.

Participants Nage Uke Person executing a technique (thrower) Person receiving a technique (receiver) Morotedori Shomenuchi Yokomenuchi Tsuki Kubishime Tori / Dori Randori Taninjudori Techniques 1. Ikkyo 2. Nikyo 3. Sankyo 4. Yonkyo 5. Gokyo Shihonage Iriminage Kotegaeshi Kokyunage Koshinage Shime Katame waza Weapons Bokken Iaito Jo Katana Shinken Tanto Weapon Actions Ken no tebiki Ken tai ken Jodori Jo no tebiki Jo tai ken Tachidori Tantodori Cuts & Strikes Dogiri Kiriage Kesagiri Kiriotoshi Yokogiri Tsuki Kirikaeshi
May 2010 v 2.1

Solo Preparation Exercises Fune kogi undo Rowing the boat (kogi=row, fune=boat) Ikkyo undo Raising and lowering both hand blades together with a rowing motion. Zengo undo Ikkyo-undo turning both front and rear Furi-tama undo Hand shaking (furi=shake, tama=soul) Sayu Udefuri Undo Twisting body side to side Shiho giri Four direction cutting/extension Happo giri Eight direction cutting/extension Kokyu undo Breathing exercises Tekubi furi undo Hand shaking to relax the body Tenkan undo Body turning (tenkan) exercise Zenpo kaiten undo Forward rolling exercise Ushiro ukemi undo Backward rolling exercise Shikko Knee walking Ushiro shikko Backwards knee walking Body Positions, Stances & Steps Kamae Stance Seiza Sitting on knees (lit: correct sitting) Tate hiza Sitting on one knee, other knee up Hanmi Half-body stance (used in most aikido schools. Nishio ryu uses shizentai) Gyakuhanmi Stance opposite to opponent (opposite foot) Aihanmi Mutual stance to opponent (same foot) Shizentai Natural (neutral) body stance Irimi Entering (penetrating the opponent's defense) Tenkan Turning (a.k.a. tai no tenkan) Shikkodachi Straddle stance (horse stance) Zenkutsudachi One foot forward stance Furikaburi Raising the sword Hanmi Handachi Uke standing, nage kneeling Suwari Waza Uke and nage both kneeling Tai sabaki Body shifting Position & Direction Omote Front (i.e. moving to attackers front side) Ura Back (moving to attackers back side) Hidari Left Migi Right Zenpo Forward Ushiro Rear (i.e. an attack from the rear) Jodan Upper Chudan Middle Gedan Lower Gyaku Opposite (e.g. Gyakuhanmi) Ai Same, mutual (e.g. Aihanmi) Soto Outside (e.g. Sotokaiten=turning outside uke's arm) Uchi Inside (e.g. Uchikaiten=turning under uke's arm) Attacks, Grabs Katatedori Ryotedori Katadori Ryokatadori Ushiro Ryokatadori Sodedori Katadori Menuchi Single wrist grab (from Gyakuhanmi or Aihanmi) Grab both forearms of opponent Shoulder grab (usually gyakuhanmi) Grabbing both shoulders Grabbing both shoulders from behind Grabbing the sleeve (near the elbow) Front strike w/ one hand, grab sleeve w/ other hand. Kata means shoulder but we actually grab the sleeve on katadori menuchi.

Grab one forearm of opponent with two hands Hand blade strike to top of head Hand blade strike to side of jaw or neck Thrust, straight punch Neck choke Grab (the term mochi is also used) Freestyle Multiple attackers First control form (ude osae; arm bar) Second control (kote mawashi; wrist turn) Third control (kote hineri; arm twist) Fourth control (tekubi osae; forearm pin) Fifth control form (ude nobashi; arm stretching) Four directions throw Entering throw Wrist turn out throw Throw using atemi, timing, movement, unbalancing Hip throw Choke Floor pinning technique Wooden sword (bo=wood, ken=sword) Iaido practice sword (non-sharpened) Wooden staff Samurai sword Real sword with live (sharp) blade Knife Leading with the sword Sword vs. sword Disarming a staff (take away) Leading with the staff Sword vs. staff Sword disarming (take away) Knife disarming Horizontal torso cut Rising (upward diagonal) cut Downward diagonal cut Straight downward cut Horizontal cut Thrust Repeating cuts

Use of the Hands and Body Taido Empty handed technique Tegatana Hand blade, edge of hand (lit: Hand sword) Kaiten Turning, rotating, returning (e.g. sotokaiten, uchikaiten; also kaeshi-, -gaeshi, kaesu) Kirihanashi Severing, cutting off (breaking away from opponent) Sotomakikomi Outside wrap Atemi Vital point strike. All aikido techniques include atemi. Gedankuzushi Breaking uke's balance forward and downward. Ki nagare Flowing movement Kuzushi Balance breaking Nage Throwing (~60% of Aikido is throwing techniques) Osae Controlling techniques (~40% is pinning)